PORT MORESBY (ABC Pacific Beat/Pacific Media Watch): A senior police officer in Papua New Guinea's Enga province has used social media to combat sorcery-related violence by appearing with an alleged victim to demonstrate that he is alive and well.

Video of the four suspected witches being tortured was watched around the world online, and one of the women later died as a result.

"Because of the false belief, they seriously tortured the four ladies," Nili told Pacific Beat.

The video shows the women being threatened with machetes and protesting their innocence.

Nili went to the area where the incident occurred and appealed to the community to hand over those responsible.

In the video, he introduced the alleged sorcery victim and demonstrated that he is alive and well.

He said he hoped the use of social media in this way would combat violence against those suspected of practising sorcery.

In October, a Lutheran missionary in the area, Anton Lutz, said prosecuting those who carry out these attacks can be difficult.

"Because so many people in the community believe that what they have done is the right thing, they are hesitant to turn over anyone to the police for an investigation or to cooperate in any way," he said.

Papua New Guinea's government is developing a national action plan to protect women accused of sorcery from violence.

Pacific Media Watch is compiled for the Pacific Media Centre as a regional media freedom and educational resource by a network of journalists, students, stringers and commentators.
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